IES63640B2 - A mixing and dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A mixing and dispensing apparatus suitable for animal foodstuffs and the like comprises an open-topped container having an auger rotatably mounted therein, a canopy for supporting bulky material such as hay or silage bales and enabling the material to acted upon and ingested by the auger. The auger is mounted on a shaft and is formed in two sections, each of opposite helix, and directs the material towards the centre of the container where it is cut and mixed by knives extending laterally from the shaft. A dispensing outlet is disposed in a wall of the container adjacent the centre of the container.

Description

A MIXING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS The present invention relates to mixing and dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a tractor drawn apparatus for mixing and dispensing feed for animals.

A known mixing and dispensing apparatus comprises an open topped container having an auger for mixing feed material and propelling the material to one end of the container where it is dispersed through an aperture in the side wall of the container. The feed material has a tendency to coagulate or clump resulting in uneven mixing and higher torque requirements from the auger.

Paddle type mixers attempt to overcome the disadvantages of known auger based mixers. A paddle type mixer normally comprises a substantially cylindrical container having a driven shaft along the container's longitudinal axis.

Radial arms are provided along the shaft, each of which is terminated with a paddle which may be set at an angle for improved mixing. While these arrangements provide adequate mixing for relatively fine grade materials, they are unsuitable for course grade material or material which has to be broken down. Paddle mixers are not generally suitable for high capacity loads and if clumping occurs undue strain is placed on the machine.

A known arrangement which addresses the above disadvantages comprises an apparatus having an open topped container and an auger rotatably mounted within the container, the auger being adapted to direct material from each end of the container towards its centre. Such an arrangement is exemplified in European Patent Application No. 0 562 693 (Sgariboldi). The arrangement provides distinct advantages when used with loose or particulate material but tends to encounter difficulties when processing fibrous material when presented in compacted form, for example, silage or hay bales. Particularly, clogging of the auger (transmitting extreme loads to the drive shaft) is common. Clogging occurs when a bale is placed in the container and rotation of the auger blades attempts to force the bale towards the base of the container without sufficiently breaking the bale. The power requirement to rotate the auger under such conditions is not available from the power-take-off shaft of a standard tractor. Releasing the trapped bale is time consuming and dangerous unless an expensive reverse gear facility is provided. Material bridging may also occur in certain areas, particularly at the outlet door, resulting in inadequate mixing and pockets of stagnated feed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing and dispensing apparatus having improved breaking and mixing characteristics.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a mixing and dispensing apparatus for animal foodstuffs and like material comprising an open-topped container, an auger rotatably mounted within the container, means in the container for supporting bulky material and enabling the material to be acted upon and ingested by the auger and to be directed by the auger towards the centre of the container, and a dispensing outlet disposed in a wall of the container adjacent the centre of the container.

The auger is mounted on a shaft and is formed in two sections, each of opposite helix, the shaft also supporting, between the two auger sections, at least one knife extending laterally from the shaft.

In one arrangement two knives, disposed at 180° from each other about the shaft, are provided in the third centrally located region. The knives cut fibrous material and aid intermixing of material between the first and second regions.

In an alternative auger arrangement, the centrally facing terminating ends of the auger sections are disposed at 180° to one another about the shaft. Four knives are provided within the central region, the two inner knives being disposed at 180° to one another, as before, and the outer pair of knives also being disposed at 180° to each other but 90° to the inner pair of knives.

Preferably, the outer knives are disposed at 90° to the centrally facing terminating ends of the auger section so that as material exits from the auger sections it is swiftly cut by the first encountered knife.

It will be seen that material urged by the auger travels more slowly than the rotating knives.

Advantageously, each auger section comprises a material urging blade having stiffeners laterally mounted thereon. The or each knife is also provided with said stiffeners whereby further mixing and breaking occur.

Advantageously, each auger blade is provided with laterally extending cutting tips mounted to the outer circumference of the auger blades.

Alternatively, each auger blade is provided with at least one knife formed within the auger blade circumference for ingesting bulky material.

The auger is mounted on a shaft driveable via gearing from the power-take-off shaft of a prime mover, such as an agricultural tractor.

The means for supporting and retaining bulky material comprises a canopy mounted along the length of a side wall and angled therefrom, the canopy being adapted to retain bulky material such as silage on top of the auger, so that as the auger rotates it cuts into and ingests the material.

This arrangement prevents the material being dragged around the auger and further compressed without breaking. The material must be broken into discrete pieces before it is able to pass between the auger blades and between the auger and the canopy.

The invention further provides an anti-clogging means comprising a reciprocating wiper mounted on the canopy so that, in use, material which is thrown onto the canopy by the action of the auger is removed by the wiper to fall back into the container.

Conveniently, the anti-clogging means further comprises at least one row of teeth disposed above the auger and engageable by the edges of the auger blades, so that auger clogging is alleviated.

The row of teeth are provided along the lower edge of the canopy which is located at an angle to one of the side walls of the open-topped container. When the apparatus is in use the auger and knives throw material against the canopy where material tends to build up. The teeth remove excess material from the auger blades and the wiper scrapes the material, thrown from the auger sections and knives, from the canopy to drop down into the container.

Advantageously, the cutting tips mounted on the outer circumference of the auger blades are adapted to pass between the teeth provided along the lower edge of the canopy.

A rotatable drum impeller for feeding material from the container through the closeable dispensing outlet may also be provided.

A chute may be provided to remove material from the outlet.

Optionally, a conveyor is mounted to the side of the container to remove material dispensed from the outlet.

In an alternative arrangement, the rotatable drum impeller is mounted to and moveable with the closeable dispensing outlet door.

Advantageously, the drum impeller rotates in a direction opposite that of the auger. This arrangement prevents bridging of material between the auger and the dispensing outlet.

The door and mounted impeller arrangement provides an outlet discharge metering means which is adaptable to limit or enhance standard discharge capacity.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of mixing and dispensing apparatus according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus; Figure 2 is an exposed perspective view of an auger in position in the apparatus; Figure 3 is an exposed perspective view of a wiper, canopy and teeth in position in the apparatus; Figure 4 is a detailed view of one end of the auger; Figure 5 is a detailed view of the centre section of the auger; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a dispensing outlet; Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, illustrating an alternative auger arrangement; Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a further alternative auger arrangement; Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, illustrating the improved auger of Figure 7 in relation to the canopy, teeth and wiper; Figure 9 is a detailed view of the centre section of the improved auger; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of dispensing outlet.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 to 3, a mixing and dispensing apparatus is shown comprising an open-topped container 10 mounted on a wheeled chassis 12 for towing by a prime mover such as an agricultural tractor. The container 10 is substantially rectangular having a first side wall 13 including a dispensing outlet 15, a second side wall 16, an end wall 17, a front wall 18 and a rounded base 19 housing an auger 30. The second side wall 16 has, mounted on its inner surface, a canopy 20 angled outwardly from the wall 17 by angle plates 23. The canopy retains bulky material such as straw or hay bales, particularly round bales, over the auger 30 for breaking before entering the auger. A wiper arrangement 25 is provided on the canopy 20 and is described further hereinafter. The auger 30 forms part of a main shaft 29' which is mounted in the container by a first bearing in the end wall 17 and by a second bearing in the front wall 18 and which is driven via a gearing mechanism 32. The gearing mechanism 32 is mounted on the chassis 12 adjacent the front wall of the container 10 and has a power take-off adaptor 33 for receiving power from the power take-off shaft of a tractor (not shown). A housing cover (not shown) is provided about the gearing mechanism 32. Power from the take-off shaft is used to drive the main shaft 29 of the apparatus, which includes the auger 30.

The shaft 29 has three regions Rp R2, R3 of influence along its length. The first region Rj, at the forward end of the shaft 29 (the end nearest the gearing mechanism 32), comprises an auger section having blades 35 for propelling material such as animal foodstuffs in a direction toward the centre of the shaft. The second region R£ at the rearward end of the shaft 29 also comprises an auger section having blades 37 which propel material in the opposite direction to the first region Rp so that the auger blades 35, 37 propel material towards the central region R3 which supports a pair of knives 39.

The auger 30 sits into the rounded base 19 of the open-topped container 10 and is partially obscured when viewed from above by the canopy 20 which runs substantially the length of the container and is disposed at an angle to the side wall 16 of the container to retain bulky material. The canopy 20 is fixed to the side wall 16 of the container along its upper length and its lower length is held away from the side wall and over the auger by the angle plates 23. The lower edge of the canopy 20 is provided with a row of teeth 45 which prevent excess material building up on the auger blades 35,37 and knives 39. Cutting tips 47 provided on the outer circumference of the auger blades 35,37 are adapted to pass between the teeth 45. The tips 47 are spaced along the circumference so that the teeth 45 and cutting tips 47 do not obstruct one another. Material which collects on the row of teeth 45 is cut and prevented from accumulating on the teeth. Material build-up on the canopy 20 is prevented by activating the wiper arm 25 which is pivotally mounted on the canopy. The arm 25 is driven by a hydraulic ram (not shown), but it could alternatively be driven from the gearing mechanism 32. The wiper arm 25 could also be moveable in a linear reciprocal motion defined by a track cut in the canopy 20.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, which show the auger arrangement 30 in detail, each auger section Rj, R2 is arranged to drive material towards the centrally located region R3 in which knives 39 break-up and recirculate material. The knives 39 are also used to expel material when the outlet 15, described in more detail hereinafter, is open. The auger and knife blades 35,37,39 are welded to the shaft 29, and are provided with stiffeners 50 which also act to improve mixing of the material. The cutting tips 47 provided along the circumference of the auger blades 35,37 are spaced at intervals so that when the auger 30 rotates, the tips pass between the teeth 45 and cut or otherwise dislodge material accumulated around the teeth. At each end of the shaft 29, end wall scrapers 52 are provided to prevent build-up of material on the end walls 23, 25.

The outlet 15 is located centrally on the side wall 13 as illustrated in Figure 6, and is positioned to ensure that the discharged material is thoroughly mixed. The outlet 15 is provided with a cover 55 which slides within a cowl 57 to prevent material being dispensed inadvertently. An optional chopping and dispensing roller or drum impeller 60 is illustrated and is driven by a hydraulic motor 62. The impeller 60 is provided with a series of blades or teeth 65 to assist dispensing of the material. When the drum 60 is stationary no material can be dispensed through the outlet. A standard conveyor is attachable to the outlet opening and is driven by the hydraulic motor 62. Alternatively, a chute C may be provided for dispensing the mixed material.

Figures 7 to 9 show an alternative arrangement of auger.

In this arrangement the central region R3 comprises a set of four knives, a first inner pair 39 and a second outer pair 39'. The first inner pair of knives 39 are disposed at 180° to one another about the auger shaft 29 and the second pair of knives 39' are also disposed at 180° to each other but also at 90° to the inner pair 39. To provide an improved chopping and cutting action the outer knives are disposed at 90° to the centrally facing terminating ends of the auger sections Rp R2 so that as material exits the auger sections Rj, R2 it is swiftly cut by the first encountered knife 39'. The terminating ends of the auger blades 35, 37 at the centrally facing ends of the auger sections Rj, R2 are disposed at 180° to one another.

Material urged by the auger blades 35, 37 travels relatively slowly compared to the rotational motion of the cutting knives 39, 39' so that an efficient chopping action results. In a further modification, detailed in Figures 7a and 7b, the cutting tips 47 previously provided are replaced by knives 47' formed within the auger blade circumference 35, 37. These knives 47' ingest bulky material in an action similar to that of the cutting tips 47. This arrangement obviates the requirement for the canopy mounted teeth 45 and the canopy can be positioned in closer proximity (approximately 10mm) to the auger.

Figure 10 illustrates an alternative outlet arrangement.

As before the outlet 15 is provided with a door 55' slideable within an expanded cowl (not shown). The dispensing roller drum impeller 60' is driven by the motor 62' and is, as before, provided with a set of teeth 65' to assist dispensing of material. However, the impeller 60' is mounted on, and moveable with, the door 55' so that discharge volumes can be controlled. The impeller 60' rotates in a direction opposite to that of the auger 30 to eliminate bridging of material between the auger and the dispensing outlet 15.

The embodiment described herein is directed towards chassis mounted mixing and dispensing apparatus. However, the apparatus may be modified to provide a self-propelled apparatus having an on-board motor and controls therefor.

The invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A mixing and dispensing apparatus for animal foodstuffs and like material comprising an open-topped container, an auger rotatably mounted within the container, means in the container for supporting bulky material and enabling the material to be acted upon and ingested by the auger and to be directed by the auger towards the centre of the container, and a dispensing outlet disposed in a wall of the container adjacent the centre of the container.

2. A mixing and dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the auger is mounted on a shaft and is formed in two sections, each of opposite helix, the shaft also supporting, between the two auger sections, at least one knife extending laterally from the shaft, whereby in one arrangement two knives are disposed at 180° from each other about the shaft and whereby in another arrangement the centrally facing terminating ends of the auger sections are disposed at 180° to one another about the shaft and four knives are provided within the central region, the two inner knives being disposed at 180° to one another and the outer pair of knives also being disposed at 180° to each other but at 90° to the inner pair of knives and the outer knives are disposed at 90° to the centrally facing terminating ends of the auger sections, the knives being adapted to act on the fibrous material and to aid in the mixing of the material.

3. A mixing and dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the means for supporting and retaining bulky material comprises a canopy mounted along the length of a side wall and angled therefrom, the canopy being adapted to retain bulky material such as silage on top of the auger, so that as the auger rotates it cuts into and ingests the material.

4. A mixing and dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a rotatable drum impeller 5. For dispensing material from the container through the dispensing outlet is provided and is optionally mounted on and moveable with a closeable dispensing outlet door.

5. A mixing and dispensing apparatus substantially as

6. 10 herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 or as modified by Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.